When I first moved to Germany, I had never heard of a Schultüte. Then every back-to-school season, I’d see kids proudly carrying giant colourful cones on their very first day of school, but I still didn’t know or understand what it meant, and honestly wasn’t eager to know.
It wasn’t until my oldest daughter was about to start school that I finally looked it up. It was then that I learned that this is one of Germany’s most loved back-to-school traditions, given to children as they begin primary school to celebrate this exciting new chapter. Ever since learning about it, it has become one of my favourite German traditions. In fact, I think it’s a tradition that shouldn’t stop after the first day of school.
Starting school for the first time can be overwhelming, but so can returning after a long summer break. New teachers, new classmates, new routines, and all the excitement and nerves that come with a new school year can feel like a lot for kids. So a thoughtful tradition like a Schultüte can help make the start of the school year feel exciting instead of intimidating, and it’s why I’ve decided to make a Schultüte for my girls every year, not just for their first day of school, but as our own little back-to-school tradition. It’s such a simple way to celebrate a fresh start, and it’s one I hope to continue until they’ve all finished school.
What is a Schultüte?
A Schultüte (also called a school cone) is a large decorated cone filled with little gifts, school supplies and a few sweet treats. Children receive it on their first day of school to celebrate the exciting milestone of starting first grade and to make those first-day nerves a little easier. And this year, it’s finally my turn to fill one and my daughter’s turn to hold one…so excited.
Instead of buying an already made one, I decided to make her a DIY mermaid Schultüte. So if you’re thinking of making your own too, I share exactly how I made ours step by step in my post “How to Make a DIY Schultüte for the First Day of School.”
Also, because she’ll be spending so much time at school this year, I wanted to fill her Schultüte with things she could actually use instead of packing it with only sweets. So I chose practical back-to-school essentials and a few fun surprises that would make her smile when she opened it.
Here’s everything I packed inside.
What’s Inside My Daughter’s Schultüte
School Essentials
- Pencil case
- Water bottle
- Coloured pencils
- Graphite pencils
- Outline markers
- Pencil sharpener
- Eraser
- Children’s timer
- School notebook
- Exercise books
- Name labels
I remember as a child how new pencils and stationery would make me feel so special and get me excited to go back to school and show off to my friends; I can only imagine how it makes kids these days feel. Anyway, if you’ve got a preschooler still practising with scissors, don’t miss my Preschool Cutting Practice Guide I put together here.
Arts & Crafts
- Craft box
- Washi tape
- Beads
- Colouring book
- Stickers
I also included a small craft box because creative activities are highly loved here in our house, so if your child loves making things too, you might also enjoy my roundup of worth-every-penny DIY craft kits for kids.
Hair & Accessories
- Headband
- Hair scrunchies
- Coin purse
- Health & Personal Care
- Children’s deodorant
- Lip balm
- Tangle Teezer hairbrush
Toys & Games
- UNO
- Finger twist puzzle
- Smiley slap bracelets
- Jump rope
- Small keepsake toy
- Plush penguin
Books
- First reader books
- School starter workbook
- Back-to-school activity book
- SMARTWATCH
Shop Everything in My Schultüte
If you’re putting together a Schultüte and would like to recreate this one, I’ve made it easy for you and added all (or as many as I could find!) of the items from my daughter’s Schultüte to my Amazon storefront, so you can browse everything in one place instead of hunting for each item individually. Whether you’re looking for practical school supplies, fun little surprises, books, stationery or cute accessories, you’ll find them all there.
BROWSE MY SCHULTÜTE FAVOURITES IN MY AMAZON STOREFRONT HERE
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!
Why I Chose Practical Schultüte Fillers
As tempting as it is to fill a Schultüte with chocolates, sweets and lots of candies, I was more interested in my daughter finding gifts that she would continue using long after her first day of school. Whenever I buy gifts for my kids. I try to choose toys and items that are intentional and ones they’d actually use instead of stuff that gets forgotten after a week. I follow the same approach I shared in my favourite educational toy recommendations worth purchasing. Most of these items will go straight into her school bag, while the others are little rewards she can enjoy once she gets home after a busy day of learning. For us, this Schultüte wasn’t just about the gifts, but more about celebrating a huge milestone, making her feel excited about starting first grade and creating a memory we’ll all remember even when she becomes a mom herself.
So, if you’re preparing a Schultüte for your own child, or prepping for the new school year and need ideas, I hope this list gives you plenty of inspiration for filling it with practical, fun and meaningful surprises.
Happy back-to-school season, and good luck to all the little ones starting their next big adventure!
